We are fortunate that family saved the letters that my father-in-law, George J. Gorrell, wrote during his service in England and Germany during World War II. These letters have been passed onto me and it’s time now to get them transcribed and shared to the rest of the family.
I have written other posts about George’s service.
George
J Gorrell Served in the Army Air Corps During WWII
US
Army Air Corps Base in England Where George J Gorrell Served
George
J Gorrell's WWII Service at Burtonwood Air Depot
He served in the Army Air Forces at Burtonwood, a base northwest of Warrington in Cheshire, England. He was a landing gear repairman and served there from August 1943 until the war’s end, when he was shipped to Germany to do the same work there.
In a letter to his oldest sister, Bertha, dated 17 September 1945, he described the trip to Germany from Montescourt, France aboard a train. It is ten pages but I will share only the parts where he describes the train ride. I have left the spelling mistakes as he wrote them.
“This morning at 7:30 we were packed ready to leave the shipping area of camp. At ten o’clock we left by truck for a railroad station in a village just a few miles distant the name Montescourt. But after waiting half an hour on the train station platform a clerk from camp came to inform us the train would not be available until 6 P.M. So we returned.
“Train service is very poor. Fellows have said their train coming from Le Harve took 3 days. One 90 mile stretch was made in 12 hrs. So it may be a matter of days until we see Ansbach the town mentioned on our orders. It is I believe NE of Stuttgart & South West of Berlin, but nearer Stuttgart than Berlin. All reports of living conditions in Germany seem to be good. Many G.I.s occupy former Nazi officers quarters, some former flying cadet quarters.”[1]
Finally, they were able to board their train.
“Again in Montescourt station yard truck after truck are unloading GIs for the shipment mostly to Germany. Many colored GIs. In the two hours here various ones have made a hundred trips to the cafes for wine. they come back with a bottle of wine about a quart (maybe a liter – 2 lb 3 oz) & a 2 ½ foot long loaf of French bread. The WINE cost is 160 francs ($3.20) but a couple of cakes of facial soap is as good.
“The village mothers & their children are busy selling their victory garden crop of tomatoes They are really nice red ones much better than any English grown ones. Very few will accept money but will give 4 tomatoes for 3 cigarettes. One girl about 15 years old had bartered for 9 cigarettes & was as big eyed as a child at the sight of a new toy. In part English she said it was the most she has ever had.
“The cars are simply box cars such as the “40 & 8” cars of world war I but there is no cattle yet. The cars are 18000 kilos capacity or over the size of English “goods wagons” of 14 ton. One fellow stripped a folding cot in camp of its canvas top & plans to make a hammock the rope he robbed off a tent.”[2]
Four days later, he continued the letter.
“Thursday afternoon 4 PM, 4 days later. This is the first chance I’ve had since Monday. Have been riding & waiting since leaving Montescourt Monday about 9 at night. Plans had been made to ship us 19 per car (about 22 ft x 8 ft) but we finally were assigned to a group of 31 men for our particular car. The first night we slept on the floor & believe me sardines had nothing on us. For each move we’d make, the two or more fellows laying on us were disturbed & had to readjust themselves. Tuesday, going north in France scenery was beautiful, the land being rolling hills. Many rode on top of the train. During stops which were every 2 or 3 hours the GIs would fire their rifles & pistols, if in the country or trade for various things to eat & drink if in a village.
“Tuesday night we had four hammocks strung across the car. Mine was a tent half fast-ened to the bars over the windows. It was a big improvement over riding on the floor. The main disadvantage was the whipping action of the car. The car has only 4 wheels. From Montescourt, Bar de duc, and Lerouville & Nancy are the only towns or cities I remember.
“Wednesday morning we were in Germany, having crossed the Marne river at 6:10 AM. Here are the towns we went through in case you have a map & can trace it. Achern, Baden oos, Rastatt (badly damaged) Bietigheim, Karlsbruche (sp?), Ludwigsburg, Kornwestheim, Augbert, Nuremburg.
“Thursday morning (I’m writing now Friday afternoon) after waiting in the station yard in Nuremburg and switching, we came to Ansbach about 10 PM last night. Were given temporary place to sleep in a basement of a 3 story barracks. The permanent GIs have quarters in the barracks 2 to 6 per room formerly the place was occupied by German flying officers. The flying field is nearby. Outside of needing a little painting the have a good appearance.”[3]
Later in the letter, he writes about the food during the transit.
“Oh I meant to describe the food situation while enroute here. Two meals were in transient mess halls along the railroads. One is known all over as the 40 and 8 car mess. You no doubt know the meaning of “40 & 8” – 40 horses & 8 men to the car back in War I.
“The balance of meals was army K rations which are packaged 4 x 8 x 1½ inches. There are breakfast dinner & supper all differently colored. They float & are water tight. The breakfast contains a 3 ounce can of prepared ham & eggs, crackers, compressed fig-prune-apricot & raisin bar, a cake of ready-to-eat cereal made with sugar & dried milk, (this can be dissolved in a little water or eaten dry as candy), 4 cigarettes, matches, concentrated coffee substitute, sugar and a full ration of Waldorf. Dinner & supper of course vary slightly but the idea is the same. If the package is cut in two, two waterproof cups can be had to drink from or mix the cereal.”[4]
He also spoke about the condition of the railroads.
“Since starting writing after lunch, I have seen a map of Germany and noticed the roundabout way our train took enroute here. Railroads are badly hit by bombing thus service is slow Our trip was 72 hours long many times the normal length (only 3 are required by Air) We saw hundreds (it seemed) of bridges bombed out, many of which we rode over. Some were massive concrete structures which must have had block busters to break them. Where the train did pass over a partly repaired bridge the speed was very slow. Endless numbers of locomotives & boxcars & coaches too were twisted & burned. They as well as much tangled track was simply pushed aside. All locomotives coaches & cars have ALLIED FORCES stenciled on.”[5]
He took a photo of the train he rode in.
_gare_de_Montescourt_(ancien_b%C3%A2timent).JPG)
Here is the first page of the letter to Bertha.
We are very fortunate to have a first-hand account of George’s experience in France and Germany during World War II.
#52Ancestors-Week 28: Trains
This is my seventh year working on this
year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe.
I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.
[1]
Letter, George Gorrell to Bertha Smart [his sister], dated 17 Sep 1945, p. 1.
[2] Letter,
George Gorrell to Bertha Smart [his sister], dated 17 Sep 1945, p. 3.
[3] Letter,
George Gorrell to Bertha Smart [his sister], dated 17 Sep 1945, p.4-5.
[4] Letter,
George Gorrell to Bertha Smart [his sister], dated 17 Sep 1945, p. 7-8.
[5] Letter,
George Gorrell to Bertha Smart [his sister], dated 17 Sep 1945, p. 6.
90 miles in 12 hours? What a saga. Very interesting to read these letters, knowing what was ahead. TY for sharing.
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